Carbon pile regulator



Sept. 4, 1957 w. G. NEILD CARBON PILE REGULATOR Filed May 6, 1954INVENTOR. WILLIAM G NE/LD AT TORNE Y 2,807,694 Patented Sept. 24, 1957United States Patent Office CARBON PILE REGULATOR Application May 6,1954, Serial No. 427,963

' 3 Claims. (Cl. 201-51) The present invention relates to variableresistance regulators and more particularly to carbon pile regulators.

Variable resistance regulators, for example carbon pile regulators, havecome into general use for controlling the voltage, frequency and currentof dynamoelectric machines. Carbon pile regulators operate on theprinciple of varying the pressure applied to the carbon pile. One end ofthe pile is relatively fixed. Operatively associated with the other endto apply pressure on the pile is an armature carried by a spring whichtends to urge the armature towards the pile. An electromagnet, whenenergized, tends to withdraw the armature from the pile against the biasof the spring. For proper operation, it is necessary that theelectromotive forces acting upon the armature match the springcharacteristics as the air gap varies.

Heretofore, the armature, which is completely supported by the springassembly, has been kept small and the regulator requirements have beensuch that the small mass of the armature could be considered asnegligible. However, under new regulator requirements involvingincreased shock, vibration and acceleration, the effect of the mass ofthe armature cannot be disregarded even though the mass be held to aminimum.

The present invention provides a novel arrangement for counterbalancinga floating type armature without aflecting the operation of thediaphragm or spring. This construction permits the regulator towithstand greater shock, vibration and acceleration without materiallyaffecting the operation of the regulator.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved carbon pileregulator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved armatureassembly for a carbon pile regulator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carbon pile regulatorhaving a novel balance armature assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel regulator adaptedto withstand shock, vibration and acceleration.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appearmore fully hereinafter from a consideration of the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein one embodimentof the invention is illustrated by way of example.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a cutaway view of a carbon pile regulator illustrating oneembodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the regulator of Figure 1 taken alongthe line of 22.

Referring now to the drawing, a carbon pile regulator is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 5 and has an electromagnet coil 6, armatureassembly 7 and carbon pile 8. The coil 6 is surrounded by a casing 9 ofa suitable ferromagnetic material. The easing 9 has a flange 10extending inward and forming the pole face for the electromagnetassembly. A bottom plate 11 is secured to casing 9 by screws 12 or inany other suitable manner. A core member 13 of a suitable ferromagneticmaterial is screw threaded to the plate 11 and projects into the coil 6.

A carbon pile housing 14 having heat radiating fins 15 is secured to thecasing 9 by post 16. The housing 14 has a plate 17 formed integraltherewith and a counterbore portion 18. A cap member 19 is insulatedfrom the plate 17 by an insulating member 20 and is secured thereto byscrews 21. The cap member 19 has a threaded portion 22 adapted toreceive a pile adjusting screw 23. Mounted in the housing 14 andextending longitudinally therein is a tube 24 of a suitablenon-conducting material. The tube 24 carries carbon disc 25 forming thecarbon pile 8. The carbon pile 8 is carried between contact plugs 26 and27.

The armature assembly 7 has a diaphragm type spring 28 seated on theflange 10 of the casing 9. An armature plate 29 is positioned on theside of the spring 28 adjacent to the core 13. On the opposite side ofthe spring 28, a clamping plate 30 is positioned so that the spring 28is clamped between the plates 29 and 30 by suitable screws 31. A cupshaped member 32 adapted to hold the contact plug 27 is mounted on theplate 30 by screws 33. An insulating member 34 insulates the member 32from the plate 30.

A novel feature of the invention is the provision of counterbalancingmeans for an armature supported or floated by the armature spring. Amember 35 is secured to clamping plate 30 by the screws 31. The member35 may have ribs 36 to provide rigidity. Secured to the member 35 byscrews 37 is a counterbalance 38. One side of a spring like member 39 isclamped between the member 35 and the counterbalance 38. The other sideof the member 39 is secured to the casing 9 by a clamping plate 40 andscrews 41. An opening 42 is provided in the housing 14 for the member35. The member 39 serves as a pivot for the counterbalance yet hassuflicient flexibility to permit movement of the diaphragm 28.

In operation, the counterbalancing means have the effect of making thearmature assembly weightless. The armature and counterbalance are sodesigned that the center of gravity for the armature assembly will bethe center of the pivot member 39. The counterbalance is so shaped thata line drawn through its center of gravity and through the center ofgravity of the armature will pass through the center of the pivot member39. Hence, under conditions of shock, severe acceleration, andvibration, the mass of the armature does not affect the operation of theregulator. The pivot member 39 is sufiiciently flexible and does notsubstantially affect the normal operation of the spring. Thus, byproviding a counterweighted armature, the regulator is capable ofoperation under adverse conditions of shock, acceleration and vibrationssuch as may be expected in modern high speed craft.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, various changes in the form and relative arrangement of theparts which will now appear to those skilled in the art may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a regulator having a variable resistance element, a housing,spring means for actuating said resistance element in one direction andan electromagnet for actuating said resistance element in the oppositedirection in opposition to said spring means; the improvement comprisingan armature assembly carried by said spring means and having acounterbalancesecured thereto, and a spring like pivot member secured tosaid housing for said counterbalance.

2. A carbon pile regulator comprising a stack of carbon discs, a movablemember in operative relationship with said stack of carbon discs, aspring member for mounting said movable member and biasing said movablemember in a direction to compress said stack of carbon discs, anelectromagnet for biasing said movable member in a direction opposingsaid spring member, a housing for said regulator, an arm extending fromsaid movable member to an opening in said housing, a weight secured tosaid arm, and a spring like pivot member connected between said arm andsaid weight and secured to said housing, said Weight being soproportioned that a line drawn through the center of gravity of saidmovable member and said Weight Would pass through the center of saidpivot member.

3. For use in a carbon pile regulator having an electromagnet and ahousing, the improvement comprising an armature assembly having adiaphragm type spring, 15 2,400,136

5 turc member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS252,347 Ball Ian. 17, 1882 359,101. Shallenberger Mar. 8, 1887 596,515Ihlder Jan. 4, 1898 865,383 Handy Sept. 10, 1907 1,700,040 Grob Jan. 22,1929 1,857,149 Grob May 10, 1932 Rady May 14-, 1946

